Feed-regulating device for seed-planting machines.



W. D. EAINES. EEED EEGULATING DEVICE roE sEED PEANTING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 8, 1910.

Patented Apr. 11, 1911.

/fzzam Elm.

UNITE- STATES PATENT on WILLIAM n.I nAINEs, or HADnoNFIELD, VNEW JERSEY.

'FEED-REGULKATING DEVICE FOR SEED-PLANTING 'specification of Letters Patent.

MACHINES.

Patented Apr. 11,1911.-

Application filed August 8, 1910. Serial No. 576,102.

To all whom 'it may concern: v Be it known'that I, WILLIAM D. Haines, a citizen of the United States, residing in Haddonfield, Camden county, New`Jersey, have invented certain Improvements in Feed- Regulating Devices for Seed-Planting Machines, of which the followingis a specitication. i

One object of my invention is to provide a simple, substantial and conveniently ad- ,V justable device for regulating the feed of any form of granular or lump material, such as seeds of 'various sizes.

A More particularly it is desired to provide a feed regulating device especially adapted for use onl seed planting machines whereby it shall kbe possible to vary the number ofseeds periodically. discharged by the machine, as

may be desired.

lThese objects ,andother `advantageousv ends'I secure as hereinafter set forth, refer-r1 able source of power.

Loosely mounted on thisshaft 3 is-a re-.

ceiving -hopper4having a projection-5 at its lower edge for the `reception of a clamp 6; this latter being designedto operate in a slot formed in a curved arm/ to perl-nit the hopper 4 to be swung on its supporting shaft 3. within certain.. predetermined limits.

Al feed wheel- 8 is mounted within the hopper adjacentv a plane side thereof, indicated at 4a, and is preferably formedwith a numbery ofl peripheral recesses 9,

preferably under, cut. In this plane side 4a adj acentone edge thereof, is a discharge opening 10 into which the material ,carried by feed wheel lfallsas these latter are brought over the sai/ne: 'Said wheel is fixed to a spindle 11 ,f'journa'led inthe hopper structure, being turned' at any of a number of different speeds bymeans of a gear wheel l2 xed to the shaft 3 and so designed as to be capableof meshing with any of a numthe recesses of the.

bei" of circular racks 13, 13, and 13b formed 1n or mounted on the feed wheel. A transverse partition 14 extends across the interior of the Bopper 4 substantially parallel with and adjacent to the feed wheel 8;-its design being such that there is a 'relatively small opening between its lower edge and 'the lower side parts o`f the hopper, through which material passes to reach the lowermost portion of said. hopper-and the feed wheel.. The spindle 11 extends through-this partition and on its end carries a stirring arm 15 designed to facilitate the How of seed or other'material through the opening under the partition 14.

Under operating conditionsthe seed or other granular or lump material to be delivered in is placed within the hopper in front of the partition V14, and some of it flows under the loweredge of this partition into the lowermost of the peripheral recesses of the feed wheel. As -(this latter is turned, its teeth .with their recesses wholly or partially full,

as the case may be, pass npwardlykacross the topof the hopper, and down the oppositevside thereof until such recesses come over the' opening A10, when their contents are successively discharged under the action of gravity into any desired conduit or' receptacle, It is obvious that if the hop'per be held by means of the clamping screw 6 so that the side 4l or adjacent to a vertical plane, but comparatively small charges of granular material can enter the recesses between the teeth so that these arevbut `partially filled; it being possible to accurately adjust the positionof the hopper -soas to regulate to the utmost nicety the actual number of seeds or bodies Ventering each recess.

As theA hopper is swung on the shaft 3 into or toward Athe position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, a greater relative amount of material passes through the opening under the lower edge 'of thepartition 14, with the result that .a great-er number of seedsor particles enters measured quantities or numbersp with the feed wheel .8 isin Y each of the recesses of the feed wheel and is' delivered thereby to the 'opening 10; it being possible to so modify the angle of the hop-- per that each of the recesses may be filled. The stirring arm' v15, turning with the shaftl lll, eifectually prevents any clogglng or stoppage of flow of the material to the feed wheel, whose relative speed may be varied by sliding the gearl 12 on the shaft 3 into engagement with one or the other of the toothed racks 13, 13a and 13b. It Will be understood, of c'olfrse, that modifications in the character of the feed wheel may be resorted to to take care of various kinds of seeds. In some instances, the teeth may have Wider spaces; in otherinstances the spaces may benarrower, and in still other instances apertures adjacent the margin of this wheel may be employed in lieu of such teeth; such apertures and the spaces between the teeth being in all instances of a lsize suitable to accommodate the seed de-` slred to'be sown.

I claim 1. The combination in a feed regulating device of a container; a feed Wheel for periodicallyvdischarging measured quantities of material therefrom; said feed Wheel being adjustable on an axis substantially parallel toits .plane to vary the amount of material delivered.

Q. The combination of a supporting structure; a container mounted thereon capable of being turned to adjust its position; with a feed wheel in the container adjustable therewith on an aXis substantially parallel to its plane to vary the amount of material discharged by l The combination of a container a feed wheel therein; means for turning sal feed Wheel to discharge Amaterial from the oontainer; with means for adjustably supporting the container so as to permit of a variation of the angle of the feed Wheel to a verj tical plane.

4. The combination of a supporting structure; with a feed- Wheel mountedl on said structure, having recesses for conveying granular material and free to be adjusted as to its angle to a vertical plane to vary the amount of material entering said recesses.

,5. The combination of a supporting structure; with a feed Wheel mounted on `said structure, having recesses for conveying granular material v-and free to be adjusted as to its angle to avertical plane to vary the amount of material entering said recesses;

with an agitator connected to the feed wheel.

6. Thecombination of a supporting structure; a feed Wheel capable of adjustment to ture having a shaft; a container mounted to be capable of oscillation to adjust its position and having means for retaining it in :my adjusted posit-ion; and a feed Wheel adjustable with the container to vary its angle to 'a vertical plane and having .means for connectin it to said shaft.

9.` The com ination of a supporting structure having a shaft; a container loosely mounted on said shaft so as to be free to turn for purposes of adjustment and having an opening in one of its sides; a spindle in the container operatively connected to said shaft; a feed lWheel having recesses and mounted on said spindle so as-to rotate adjacent the opening; said Wheel being adjustable with the container to vary its angle to the vertical; withI a partitionin the container for limiting the amountof material passing to the recesses of the feed Wheel,

10. The combination of asupporting structure having a shaft; a container loosely mounted on said shaft so as to be free to turn for purposes of adjustment and having an opening in one' of its sides a spindle in the container operatively connected, to said shaft; a feed wheel having recesses and mounted on said spindle so as to rotate ad- A jacent the opening; with a partition in the container for limiting the amount of material passing to the recesses of the feed Wheel; and a stirring arm' on said spindle.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of tivo subscribing Witnesses.

` WILLIAM D.\ HAINES.

lVitnesses: j

MURRAY C, BOYER, c WM. BROWN, Jr. 

